Our Patrons
Patron in Chief His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery - Governor General
Major General Philip Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC (Ret'd) was born in Wiluna, Western Australia in 1937 and educated at Kent Street High School and the Royal Military College, Duntroon.
He had a long and distinguished military career serving in Malaya, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and South Vietnam. He held senior staff appointments as Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Logistics), Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Materiel).
He retired from the Army in 1993 to assume the appointment of Governor of Western Australia which he held for seven years. For his services to the State he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and jointly with his wife Marlena a Citizen of Western Australia.
His major interests during his tenure were in youth affairs, education, environment and the family. He and his wife refurbished Government House Perth to full heritage standard and some 250,000 citizens enjoyed touring the house and its beautiful garden environs.
On 11 August 2003 he was sworn in as the twenty-fourth Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Max Walker - Australian Patron
One of the most loved and respected Australian personalities Max gladly accepted the role of National Patron.
He is a voluminous writer of books, many with cricket anecdotes, many with humour. He is very prominent all around Australia on the speakers' circuit whether as guest speaker or function MC.
He made his name in the 1970s as a multi-faceted sportsman playing 93 games of AFL for the Melbourne club and playing 34 Tests for Australia.
His motto is simple: "If you can, you must".
In his role as Patron, Max has had first hand experience with many of ROMAC's children and speaks with heartfelt emotion at many ROMAC Conferences.
We are delighted to have the support of this great Australian.
Bill Boyd - New Zealand Patron
Bill Boyd has progressed from being District Governor in 1983-4 to being an RI director in 1998-2000, treasurer of RI in 2005-6 and finally president of RI in 2006-7.
He has been a Rotarian since 1971 and is currently a member of RC of Pakauranga. He has also served Rotary as a training leader, moderator of the International Assembly, deputy chairman of the New Zealand Polio Plus committee and regional Rotary Foundation co-ordinator.
Bill is a recipient of The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and of the Distinguished Service Award from Rotary Down Under as well as being on the management committee of RDU.
His working life concluded in 1995 with the post of General Manager of Gordon and Gotch Magazines Ltd, NZ's largest magazine distributor. Bill has represented Rotary on the National Kidney Foundation. He has been an elder and youth leader of the Presbyterian Church, a Scout leader and a referee of rugby football for 31 years
